(1) On 31 December 1944, Service
Battery, Bn Personnel Section and details from each of the firing batteries
moved to the vicinity of Florence, Belgium, to set up a rear echelon installation.

e. Operations -

DECEMBER

1.

Captain GEORGE L. WILSON, one of the battalion Air Observers, and Lt. DALE
H. BRENEMAN, Liaison Pilot had a field day. They adjusted on five enemy
batteries. The 190th FA Bn fired four of these missions and the 997th FA
Bn fired the fifth. All adjustments were reported effective. Btry C fired
196 rounds of the 216 rounds expended by the bn. The Med Det gave typhus
and typhoid innoculations to Btry B.

2.

Btrys A and B were moved forward to positions in the vicinity of the area
occupied by Btry C several days previous. Nature of the terrain, these
positions being in a heavily wooded area, necessitated the clearing of
many trees to reduce the minimum elevation for several gun. Only
74 rounds were fired by the bn, most of which was interdiction.

3.

A detachment of engineers, equipped with power saws, was sent to A and
B batteries to aid them in improving their positions. These areas took
on the temporary appearance of lumber camps rather than gun positions,
with the shouts of the men echoing throughout the woods. Captain HAGEN,
Bn S-2, registered B Btry on a base point in the city of Schmidt. This
was one of the few times that the bn had registered from a ground OP. About
1430 hours enemy planes were active over our sector and Charley battery
reported being strafed. No casual ties were sustained, however

4.

Christmas cards for distribution to the batteries were received from the
popular and well liked Chaplains MC SWEEN and MC CRORY with their compliments.
Btry C continued to do the major part of the battalion's firing.

5.

S/Sgt Ira H. Lear who was lost to hospital as the result of an enemy
bombing when the bn was in Cerisy la Foret, France, in July, was reassigned
and joined Btry C from the 3rd Repl Depot in Verviers, Belgium. Cpl Henry
A Winterscheidt, computer from Btry C and long a member of the bn Fire
Direction Team was promoted to the grade of S/Sgt. S/Sgt Theodore L.
Saunders. Mess Sargent from Hq Btry, abs sk in hospital was dropped
from assignment, Col HILL, our group commander, was a visitor at the Bn
CP.

6.

Captain JEPTHA S. DAVIS, JR., Bn Mtr Officer, visited the Bn CP to discuss
the winter-izing of the vehicles in the Bn after which Major PERHAM, Bn
Ex O, made a tour of inspection of the batteries for the purpose of inspecting
maintenance of materiel and the living conditions of personnel.

7.

Captain HANCOCK, from the G-5 section of First Army, arrived to pick up
valuable paintings present in the houses occupied by Bn Headquarters. These
paintings, presumably stolen by the enemy, were to be stored for safekeeping
pending redistribution to their proper owners. Tec 5 Hilton H. Hobby,
a cook in Btry C, abs sk in Hospital, was dropped from assignment.

8.

Captain GEORGE L. WILSON and 1st Lt. CLARENCE T. EMBODY, our air observers,
were awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal, per GO #78, Hq V Corps,
dtd 3 Dec 1944. Presentations were made by Colonel HILL, 190th FA GP Commander,
at Gp Headquarters. During the first eight days of the month the bn fired
1605 rounds and Captain MILLER, Bn S-4 had drawn 1207 rounds from the ASP.

9.

It has been noted that with the usual GI ingenuity the men in the bn have
constructed log houses for their protection and comfort that would be a
credit to their pioneer forbears. Practically all of these houses are heated
by some means or other and many of them are quite cleverly furnished. Inclement
weather, making for poor observation, held the battalion's firing to a
minimum, only 90 rounds being fired on this day. Pvt Rossie B. Hall,
Btry C, was promoted to the grade of Cpl.

10.

1st Lt. WILLIAM G. ROLF and 1st Lt. RONALD N. FISHBACK, together with 9
enlisted men fran the battalion, returned from Paris where they had enjoyed
a 48 hour recreation pass. Pvt Clifford E. Miles, Hq Btry, Pvt Daniel
V. Cotter, Btry A, Pfc Freeman C Woodard, Btry B, and Pvt Charles
K. Norris Btry C, were placed on Ds with the 3d Tank Destroyer Op to
serve as Military Government Police. T/Sgt James M. Gibbs, Bn Personnel
NCO, took them to Spa, Belgium, where they reported for duty.

11.

In addition to the OP at Germeter, Germany, the battalion established two
more OPs in the vicinity of Lammersdorf, Germany. The object in establishing
these installations was to insure wider observation in this sector for
proposed operations. They were identified as Baker and Charley OPs respectively
and were manned by personnel from these units. Tec 4 Harold H. Lloyd,
lost to hospital while the bn was in positions at Bullingen, Belgium, 11
Ocotober, was reassigned and joined Service Battery from the 3rd Repl Depot.
Pfc Albert H. Heitzenrater and Pvt Robert E. Beuth of Btry
C were promoted to Cpl and Tec 5 respectively.

12.

The direction of fire of the guns was changed in ordep to enable the bn
to cover a wider sector of fire. Captain RALPH KURTRIGHT, an officer from
the 78th Division, which had been moved into our sector, surprised his
brother, 1st Lt. JAMES E. KURTRIGHT, Asst Bn Com O, by dropping into the
Cp for a short visit. The two brothers had not seen each other in two years.
Buzz bomb activity struck a new high on this date with one being reported
about even half hour throughout the day and night.

13.

Captain NAPPEAR, from First Army Ordnance, was in the area to pick up an
obturator pad which the bn had been using. This pad wee being used as part
of an experiment upon which the captain had been working for some time.
It proved to be a much more substantial one than our ordinary pads, showing
very little if any wear after the firing of several hundred rounds. Between
0020 Hours and 1400 hours Captain MILLER, Bn 5-4, in charge of an ammunition
train, drew and transported 1294 rounds of aimunition to the batteries.
The bn expended 983 round. on preparation fires and interdiction during
this 24 hour period. Tec 5 Allen B. Canady, Hq Btry, was promoted
to the grade of Tec 4. CWO LEONARD MASSOTH, Bn Personnel Adjutant,
and Pvt. Donald S. Martin, Personnel Clerk, made a trip to the 16th
General Hospital at Liege, Belgium to pick up Sgt Swank, of
Btry C, who was being returned to duty.

14.

On this day Tec 5 Harry 0. Whitman, Btry B. and Pvt James M.
Heim, Btry C, were dropped from assgmt to the bn. Pfc Allan B. Smith,
Btry C was evacuated to the 382d Collecting Co. as a battle casuality.
He was injured when the recoil of one of the howitzers struck him in the
chest as he lost his footing in the mud around the gun. Lt ENBODY and Lt.
FENNER very effectively adjusted on an enemy battery from an Air CP. Pfc
George
Meeks, Btry B, was promoted to the grade of Cpl. The Med Det gave tphoid
and typhus innoculations to Btry C.

15.

1st Lt. KURTRIGHT, Who was manning the Germeter OP, reported considerable
enemy vehicular movement on the road running southwest out of the town
of Schmidt. An adjustment was made on the road but no further targets presented
themselves thereafter and no additional firing was done. The picture "Laura"
starring Gene Tierney was shown in Roetgen by the 190th FA Gp Special Service
section and arrangements were made for personnel from the battalion to
attend. The battalion drew 700 rounds of ammunition fran the ASP.

16,

Beginning at approximately 0540 hours and continuing for about 2 hours
enemy artillery fire was directed in the vicinity of our positions. Captain
HAGEN, Bn S-2, departed for 190th FL Op Headquarters where he had been
placed on temporary duty. After dark there was considerable enemy air activity
over the area and many flares and bombs were dropped. No casualties resulted.
Four hundred rounds of ammunition were drawn for the battalion.

17.

Pfc Willie S. Tolison, who was lost to hospital as the result of
injuries sustained from the muzzle burst in B Brty while the battalion
was in position near Cerisy la Foret, France, in July, was reassigned and
joined his former battery. This night enemy planes were over the area and
flares were dropped. Later, acting on a report from higher headquarters,
the battalion was instructed to double its security guard and to be on
the alert for enemy paratroopers.

18.

There was considerable air activity over the sector this date, Cpl Merl
Dyson, machine gunner from Btry B, expended 90 rounds of .50 cal. amunition
at a low flying ME 109 that was strafing his position and reported several
hits. The plane was not destroyed however. Aerial bombs, supposedly anti-personnel,
were dropped near the A Btry area in the early morning hours. At about
1000 hours a 40 mm AA shell that had failed to burst in the air exploded
upon impact in the trees immediately above the S-1 tent in the Service
Battery area. No injuries or damage resulted. An 8th Division Forward
Ohserver adjusted Btry B on three enemy 105 mm guns. With the expenditure
of 27 rounds the three guns and a near by building housing the gun crews
were completely destroyed. After the mission was completed, the observer
reported by telephone that the results were perfect. Reception over the
wire was poor and when asked to speak louder the observer replied, "I can't,
I'm right on the front lines." This incident makes for a deeper appreciation
of the role played by the infantry forward observer.

19.

As result of enemy air activity over the sector this day, Pfc Joe T.
Blair of service battery, received a slight head injury that was later
diagnosed as mild concussion. He was evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
One enemy plane was shot down in the near vicinity of the Hq Btry at about
1600 hours. Btry C, by virtue of the fact that they were the only battery
in position to Fire into the sector through which the enemy counter attack
was being made, expended 597 rounds in the vicinity of Monchau during this
twenty-four hour period. Pvt Terry Evans. Btry A, absent sick was
dropped from assignment.

20.

Captains LANDES, VUNCK, COON and SEIBERT attended a battery commanders'
meeting at Bn headquarters where Lt Col. MORAWETZ gave them a clear picture
of the situation to our south relative to the recent large scale offensive
launched by the enemy in that area. He also stressed the necessity for
a strong security guard and emphasized the need for close cooperation with
the other units in our sector in this respect. Inclement weather kept our
air section grounded and all firing was directed from ground OPs

21.

The battalion was reld from assignment to the 190th FA Gp and attached
to 187th FA Gp on this date, per VOCG, V Corps. We were not associated
with the 793rd FA Battalion, an organization which had cadred from our
outfit at Fort Ord, Calif., in March 1942. Elements of the Ninth Army under
General SIMPSON, had been shifted to our sector to further strengthen our
front and the 793rd was one of these outfits. Many old acquaintances
were renewed throughout the two units· General SIMPSON was at one
time in command of the 35th Division at Camp Robinson, Ark., where many
of our men received their basic training.

22.

This day was marked by considerable activity between our CP and cur new
Group Headquarters. It was more or less a process of getting acquainted
with our new group and securing the information regarding their SOP. Practically
every officer on the staff visited Gp Headquarters on this day. No fire
missions, other than those of normal interdiction, were received on this
day.

23.

Captain WHITE, CO Btry A, 460th AAA Bn, which is in support of our Bn in
this sector, visited the CP to get the situation. Captain WHITE'S organization
has been attached to us since we were in Cerisy Ia Foret in France, and
we have always received the highest type of cooperation and coordination
from them. During the week ending on this late the Bn drew 3901 rounds
of ammunition and expended 2719 rounds.

24.

Eleven men from Hq Btry, three from Sv Btry and three from the Med Det
received Christmas gifts from their respective battery commanders in the
form of promotions to the grade of Private First Class. These promotions
were made possible by a new change in Army Regulations without regard for
T/Os. This was Christmas Eve and on the whole all thoughts were of home
and loved ones. However, there was little of the usual Christmas spirit
to be found among the troops; but between the forces cf the Allied Air
Command and the heavy artillery outfits of the AGF the enemy was literally
showered 4th "gifts" bearing the personal compliments of every member of
the Armed Forces a reminder that only through peace on earth can a spirit
of good will toward men exist.

25.

Tactically things were quiet on Christmas Day. The batteries all enjoyed
a big turkey dinrer with all the trimmings and the only enemy activity
during the day was the strafing of Btry B by a low flying JU 88. No casualties
resulted and 110 rounds of .50 cal. ammunition were expended in repulsing
the aircraft. Three routine air reconnaissance flights were made by our
observers and one mission of adjustment was fired on an enemy pilibox.
The fire was reported effective.

26.

Twenty-two men from Btry C and thirteen from Btry B were promoted tc the
grade of Private First class. Pfc Carltor E. Price, lost to hospital
while the bn was in position at Cordey, France, in August and Pvt Wilbur
D. Tipton lost to hospital at Cerisy-la-Foret, France, and Pvt John
E. Fletcher. lost to hospital at Vire, France, were all reassigned
and joined their old outfits on this date. A Battery Commanders' meeting
was held at bn headquarters and the subject of a plan for sector defense
was introduced. As a result of this meeting squads were formed throughout
the bn for the purpose of setting up a strategic defensive positions and
effective road blocks to be occupied in the event of a possible enemy counter
attack through ourarea.

27.

Observation from our Germeter OP was good on this day and three missions
of adjustment were fired during the period. Two of these missions were
fired during the day and were directed on enemy pillboxes.. The third mission
was fired at night. It was a clear moonlight night and at about 1230 hours,
Captain LANDES, our observer for this period, picked up a column of enemy
vehicles proceeding in a southwesterly direction out of Schmidt. The captain
notified the bn FDC and requested permission to adjust. Permission was
granted and seven rounds were expended on the mission. Effect was questionable
insofar as damage was concerned; however, no further traffic was reported
in the area fired upon during the balance of the night. An effective mission
of adjustment on an enemy pillbox was also directed from an Air OP during
the day and this flight marked the 230th combat mission flown by our Liaison
Pilots.

28.

Nineteen men from Btry A were promoted to grade of Private First Class.
Lt Col MC LEER, Ex O, 187th Fa Gp, was a visitor at the Bn CP. He rought
down the latest developments on the situation ahd also informed us that
the 75th Division, our old neighbors at Ft. Leonardwood, Mo., were now
in France.

29.

Major Perham, together with Lt Col
MC LEER from 187th FA Gp made an inspection tour of the batteries and found
that the men had greatly added to their personal comforts with.the addition
of the recently issued canvas cots and bed sacks. They also noted that
the continued cold and freezing temperatures were making for better operational
efficience throughout the entire battalion. The weather, while a bit disagreeable,
was highly preferrable to the mud and rain which had been hampering our
operations for months.

30.

After returning from a meeting at Gp Hq, Col MORAWETZ, Captain MILLER,
1st Lt TAUTGES and 1st Lt TEMPLE departed on reconnaissance for alternate
positions for the firing batteries in the vicinity of Kittinus, Belgium.
They also selected positions near Florence, Belgium, for the establishment
of a rear echelon to be composed of Sv Btry, the Bn Personnel Section and
sufficient personnel from each of the firing batteries to form a battalion
arumunition train. These positions were selected to be occupied in case
it became necessary to withdraw from present positions. However,
it was decided that Sv Btry and elements selected to for the rear echelon
would be moved to the new area the following day.

31.

In the early morning hours of this day the area immediately south of us
was subjected to intensive aerial bombing by the enemy. Our liaison
planes were based at an airstrip in the area and one of them was damaged
to such an extent that it was beyond immediate repair and was removed to
a rear echelon repair installation. At 1400 hours the last elements of
the rear echelon had closed in positions in the vicinity of Florence, Belgium.
As nearly as possible all personnel were billeted in houses in the area.
Cpl Ralph C. Duncan, and Pvts Russell H. Farner and Theodore
R. Williams, absent sick , were dropped from assignment. As a seemingly
final gesture to the old year and a rousing welcome to the new, the battalion
expended 11 rounds on a TOT mission at exactly 2400 hours. Exactly one
year ago to the day the battalion wound up its POM activities at Ft. Leonardwood,
Mo., and were ready to leave for the P of E the following morning. Very
little firing was done during the last week of the month and the month
closed with a total expenditure of approximately 9500 round of 8" howitzer
ammunition. Btry C fired its 10,000th round (handwritten note: 2,000
tons) on this, the last day of the year.